input with '@' informat

[Sathiskumar_D]

I found out the answer by creating the color.txt  file and submitting in the SAS Univ Edn. However,I couldn't figure out the reason for the answer.

The question is :

Given the text file COLORS.TXT:

----+----1----+----2----+----
RED    ORANGE  YELLOW  GREEN
BLUE   INDIGO  PURPLE  VIOLET
CYAN   WHITE   FUCSIA  BLACK
GRAY   BROWN   PINK    MAGENTA

The following SAS program is submitted:

data WORK.COLORS;
  infile 'COLORS.TXT';
  input @1 Var1 $ @8 Var2 $ @;
  input @1 Var3 $ @8 Var4 $ @;
run;

What will the data set WORK.COLORS contain?

options are:

1. Var1     Var2     Var3    Var4
   ------   ------   ------  ------
   RED      ORANGE   RED     ORANGE
   BLUE     INDIGO   BLUE    INDIGO
   CYAN     WHITE    CYAN    WHITE
   GRAY     BROWN    GRAY    BROWN

2. Var1     Var2     Var3    Var4
   ------   ------   ------  ------
   RED      ORANGE   BLUE    INDIGO
   CYAN     WHITE    GRAY    BROWN

3. Var1     Var2     Var3    Var4
   ------   ------   ------  ------
   RED      ORANGE   YELLOW  GREEN
   BLUE     INDIGO   PURPLE  VIOLET

4. Var1     Var2     Var3    Var4
   ------   ------   ------  ------
   RED      ORANGE   YELLOW  GREEN
   BLUE     INDIGO   PURPLE  VIOLET
   CYAN     WHITE    FUCSIA  BLACK
   GRAY     BROWN    PINK    MAGENTA

[Sathiskumar_D]

I found out the answer by creating the color.txt  file and submitting in the SAS Univ Edn. However,I couldn't figure out the reason for the answer.

The question is :

Given the text file COLORS.TXT:

----+----1----+----2----+----
RED    ORANGE  YELLOW  GREEN
BLUE   INDIGO  PURPLE  VIOLET
CYAN   WHITE   FUCSIA  BLACK
GRAY   BROWN   PINK    MAGENTA

The following SAS program is submitted:

data WORK.COLORS;
  infile 'COLORS.TXT';
  input @1 Var1 $ @8 Var2 $ @;
  input @1 Var3 $ @8 Var4 $ @;
run;

What will the data set WORK.COLORS contain?

options are:

1. Var1     Var2     Var3    Var4
   ------   ------   ------  ------
   RED      ORANGE   RED     ORANGE
   BLUE     INDIGO   BLUE    INDIGO
   CYAN     WHITE    CYAN    WHITE
   GRAY     BROWN    GRAY    BROWN

2. Var1     Var2     Var3    Var4
   ------   ------   ------  ------
   RED      ORANGE   BLUE    INDIGO
   CYAN     WHITE    GRAY    BROWN

3. Var1     Var2     Var3    Var4
   ------   ------   ------  ------
   RED      ORANGE   YELLOW  GREEN
   BLUE     INDIGO   PURPLE  VIOLET

4. Var1     Var2     Var3    Var4
   ------   ------   ------  ------
   RED      ORANGE   YELLOW  GREEN
   BLUE     INDIGO   PURPLE  VIOLET
   CYAN     WHITE    FUCSIA  BLACK
   GRAY     BROWN    PINK    MAGENTA

[Reeza]

@Sathiskumar_D Please do not post the same question multiple times. It will not increase the number of responses and isn't helpful. 

[Sathiskumar_D]

When I posted the question first time, it didn't aacept the question.I am not aware of the fact that my previous question was posted.My apologies.

[Reeza · Accepted solution]

RTM. What does the documentation say regarding the trailing @?

@

holds an input record for the execution of the next INPUT statement within the same iteration of the DATA step. This line-hold specifier is called trailing @.

Restriction	The trailing @ must be the last item in the INPUT statement.
Tip	The trailing @ prevents the next INPUT statement from automatically releasing the current input record and reading the next record into the input buffer. It is useful when you need to read from a record multiple times.
See	Using Line-Hold Specifiers
Example	Holding a Record in the Input Buffer

[Sathiskumar_D]

SAS prep Guide says that '@' or '@@' cannot be used with @pointer control, with column input, nor with the MISSOVER option.In my question, however, there is '@'pointer control.

[Reeza]

Either it's incorrect or you're misunderstanding the text.

What's the page reference for this, I'm assuming SAS Base Certification Prep guide, what version? 

http://support.sas.com/publishing/cert/basecertguide3.html 

[Sathiskumar_D]

It is Third Edition (Page # 608 and Chapter 20).They had provided an example where '@' pointer control was NOT used.However, the caveat, that was mentioned, is for double trailing '@@'.